2017 Swindon Women’s Aid

Swindon Women Aid is a domestic abuse service for residents living in the Swindon area. Our service operates 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, its confidential and free of charge. We also have a 24/7 direct telephone helpline which is answered by specialist staff irrespective of the time you call – day or night.

We provide both specialist emergency refuge for women and children fleeing violence and abuse and a community service which provides outreach support to both female and male victims, including those in same sex relationships. We also have a small children and young people’s team which supports the children and young people living in our refuge and who also work with local schools and colleges in raising awareness of healthy relationships.

Swindon Women’s Aid can help. We will listen to you; we will give you information, advice and support if you want it. Our aim is to protect and support victims and their children. We are non-judgemental, we work with you at your pace, we do not tell you what you should or should not do, we do not make decisions for you – we simply provide a free and confidential advice and support service which assists you to decide what you want to do next.

We are able to provide a variety of tailor made support packages that suit your needs and that of your children. We can work on your behalf with other agencies to protect you and keep you safe, support you to stay in your own home, or we can offer you emergency accommodation if you are at high risk of harm. We can also provide advice and support to access preventative and protective measures via the criminal justice route and through other local organisations.

SWA had 1337 calls to its helpline in 2016. We accommodated 84 women and 178 children and young people in our Refuge and we helped 505 families living in the community.